Arik Air says it has removed the CRJ 1000 aircraft from its fleet.

The CRJ 1000 is a twin-engined regional airliner with a capacity of 100 passengers.

In a statement issued on Friday, the airline said the development is due to the decision of JEM Leasing Limited, the owners of the CRJ 1000, and its financiers to sell the aircraft.

The airline said the buyer of the affected aircraft had also decided to tear it down.

Arik Air explained that as the lessee of the aircraft since 2014, it operated the aeroplane under a lease agreement with JEM Leasing Limited.

The airline, however, said that it had discontinued the operations of the CRJ aircraft in its fleet since 2019.

“Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading airline, wishes to notify the public of the decision of JEM Leasing Limited owners of the CRJ 1000 registered as 5N-JEE and its financiers Export Development Canada (EDC) to sell the airplane. We equally wish to notify on the decision of the buyer to tear down the plane,” the statement reads.

“Arik Air, as the lessee since 2014, operated the Aircraft pursuant to a lease agreement with JEM Leasing Limited. Arik discontinued operations of the CRJ fleet since 2019.

“Arik Air would like to assure all stakeholders, including passengers, partners, and the general public, that the decision by the owner and financier of the Aircraft will not impact Arik’s operations or compromise its commitment to providing safe, reliable, and convenient air travel services.”

Pauline Tallen, former minister of women affairs, has opened up on her interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corrupt enrichment.

BODEX BLOG reported that the ex-minister was at the zonal command of the anti-graft agency in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Tallen was being questioned for allegedly misappropriating N2 billion from the African First Lady Peace Mission Project (AFLPM).

Reacting to the news in a statement issued on Saturday morning, Tallen said she was at the EFCC office on her “own accord” and wasn’t invited or arrested.

The former minister said she went to the office of the anti-graft agency to “address the very false allegations” recently made against her.

However, she did not provide details of the allegation.

“Owing to the respect for my former principal — Former President Muhammadu Buhari and his good office, I did not previously address the open allegation, however, it has now become necessary to do so,” the statement reads.

“Firstly, the decent & appropriate action, should this have been a genuine enquiry, would be to write to the Ministry for Women Affairs, to enquire about any funds sent to the Ministry.

“To immediately jump to the open without any proper formal correspondence is highly unprofessional, portrays a lack of respect for the Ministry of Women Affairs and is injurious to my person and character.

“Furthermore, I will like to state that there was no formal invitation from the anti-graft agency neither was I arrested.”

Tallen said “economic and political infrastructure” should be used to serve the nation and “not to be used as a tool for bias or intimidation”.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled Pauline Tallen, former minister of women affairs, over alleged corrupt enrichment.

Tallen was questioned at the Abuja zonal command for allegedly misappropriating N2 billion.

Although details of the case against the ex-minister are still unclear, a source familiar with the probe said it involves funds from the African First Lady Peace Mission Project (AFLPM).

The initiative, conceived by Maryam Abacha, former first lady, is centred on promoting peace and harmony in Africa.

Newsmen could not immediately reach Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson of the EFCC, for details of the probe.

Shortly before May 29, the EFCC had said it intends to go after then-outgoing governors and other public officials

On Thursday, the anti-graft agency invited Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti, over allegations of N4 billion misappropriation.

The probe is said to be connected to the handling of funds during his tenure.

Fayemi however said he was grilled on “a frivolous petition from a faceless group, the so-called Ekiti Patriotic Coalition”, adding that he “stands ready to cooperate fully”.